The Rouse Avenue Court in Delhi is set to announce its decision on Thursday regarding the Janakpuri violence case connected to the 1984 anti-Sikh riots involving former Congress MP Sajjan Kumar. The case revolves around accusations of violence that occurred following the assassination of then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
The trial concluded on September 23 last year, and the court reserved its judgment on December 22. During the final stages of the proceedings, the Central Bureau of Investigation stated that it would present its written arguments within a week. Subsequently, the court instructed Sajjan Kumar to submit his responses the following week, leading to the reservation of the judgment by Special Judge Dig Vinay Singh after hearing final arguments from both sides.
In earlier proceedings on July 7, Sajjan Kumar pleaded not guilty to the charges, emphasizing the lack of material evidence linking him to the alleged offenses and denying his presence at the violence site. The victim, Manjeet Kaur, testified on November 9, 2023, mentioning that she heard from the mob about Sajjan Kumar’s presence during the violence but clarified that she did not personally witness him at the scene.
Charges were framed against Sajjan Kumar on August 23, 2023, under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, excluding the murder charge under Section 302. Despite being discharged from the murder accusation, other charges against him remained. The verdict announcement had been postponed on three previous occasions, with Sajjan Kumar participating through video conferencing from Tihar Jail under tight security on each date.
